Thanks to popular demand, the Outer Banks Community Foundation is excited to announce two communications and marketing “boot camps” for local nonprofits.

The first class will be held on Thursday, April 5, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the College of the Albemarle’s Diane Baum St. Clair Technology Education Center at 132 Russell Twiford Road in Manteo. A similar, miniature-size boot camp will follow on Ocracoke Island on Friday, April 6, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Ocracoke Fire Station.

Led by Dawn Crawford and Sharon Bruce of BC/DC Ideas, the seminars will focus on marketing strategies for charitable nonprofits of all shapes and types. Both courses will cover communications planning, Gantt charts, brand realignment, and best practices for newsletters, social media, event promotions, media relations, and more.

“A strong communications plan will recruit more people to your nonprofit as donors, volunteers, and lifelong supporters,” said Ms. Crawford. “When you walk out of this class, you’ll have executable advice and tools to ensure everyone knows the story and mission of your nonprofit.”

“Last year, when we asked nonprofits to tell us their greatest training needs, marketing and communications were the most requested topics by far,” said Lorelei Costa, the Community Foundation’s executive director. “So we’re excited to offer these classes, which will give a broad overview of marketing and communications strategies for nonprofits of all sizes.”

“Normally, for a course of this scope and caliber, a nonprofit would have to travel to Greenville or Raleigh and pay tuition of $150 per person,” continued Ms. Costa. “It’s one of our goals at the Community Foundation to offer this level of training here on the Outer Banks, at an affordable cost, to help build skills and capacity in our local charitable sector. We’re particularly excited to be able to offer an encore seminar in Ocracoke, which is home to such a vibrant nonprofit community.”

Registration is required for the full-day class in Manteo and is only $15 per person for any board or staff member representing an Outer Banks charitable nonprofit. The registration fee includes a full lunch and morning coffee. Please register for the Manteo class by Sunday, April 1 to ensure your seat—and your lunch.

The Ocracoke seminar is FREE for any Outer Banks charitable nonprofit, but does not include a meal. Please register for the Ocracoke class by Thursday, April 5.

Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, BC/DC Ideas is a creative agency that specializes in nonprofit communications, marketing, and fundraising. Founded in 2010, their unique approach to communications creates interactivity and engagement with a nonprofit’s target audiences. Their leadership team has nearly 15 years of dedicated nonprofit communications experience, paired with a decade of corporate advertising experience. This combination allows them to think about the big picture with unique and creative tactics, all while scaling projects for nonprofit budgets.

The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a public charity that connects people who care with causes that matter. The Community Foundation manages $17 million in 175 charitable funds for individuals and agencies, awards charitable grants to local nonprofits, administers 50 scholarship programs, and provides tailored services to help donors pursue their charitable interests. Since its inception in 1982, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $8 million in grants and scholarships to local nonprofits and students.

Mission

The Outer Banks Community Foundation helps meet local needs across Dare County and the entire Outer Banks. We manage charitable funds for individuals and agencies, and we target grants and scholarships toward our community’s most pressing needs and promising opportunities.